Antirattle dovetail for doors



Jan. 12, 1932.

R. G. MOORE ET AL ANTIRA'ITLE DOVETAIL FOR DOORS Filed March 25, 1950 F ji.

I INVENTOR. ARTHUR EJLHUDMHNTLE.

ATTORNEY [I Ill/I RAYMBND ELMUURE Patented Jan. 12, 1932 11.1mm STATES PA ENT Game v RAYMOND G. MOORE AND ARTHUR GLAUD-MZANTLE, O33 BRIDGEPORT, COHNEGTICUT,

'RATION OF CONNECTICUT Anrrnn'rrtn novE'rArL ronnoons Application med Mach 25,1930. Serial; a 438m;

The present invention'relates to improvements in antirattle dovetails particularly for automobile doors, an object being to provide a. device of this character which will prevent the rattle usually resulting from the vibra- 'tion and weaving of the doors, effectually retaining the same againstvertical vibration, while at the same time compensating for lateral movement and wear. Another object is to provide a dovetail device which will exert a lifting movement on the door as it is closed, and in this connection the device is especially adapted for use on open and convertible cars where the door post to which the door is hinged is not as rigid as in closed body care. It is particularly proposed to provide a device inwhich a socket member is provided with a fixed camming element and an opposed laterally movable resiliently supported element, adapted to receive'wedge member between them, the camming element exerting a lifting action thereon, while the laterally movable element efiectually prevents rattles.

Another object is to provide a device of this character in which the camming element is adjustable to take care. of variations in difierent installations, and to compensate for wear.

With the above and other objects in view, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, and these embodiments will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed outin the claims. g V

In the drawings 1 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the outer side of the dovetail socket, according to the present embodiment of the invention, and which is shown mounted on the door frame.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the end of- I Fig. 5 is an elevation'of theouter. side of the wedge member.

;Fig..6 front elevation of the socket member and' showing the wedge member, in cross-section, engagedtherein.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation, particularly broken away, of ainodified form of the in vention. i I Fig. 8 is aside elevation thereofr Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings. p Referring to the drawings, the device, according to the present embodiment of the invention, comprises a socket member adapt: ed to be-secured to the door frame 10 within a cut-out recess 11, an'd consisting of a casing 120i rectangular form, open at its forward ASSIGNORS TO THE BASSIGK-GOMPANY, OF BBIDGEPOBT, CGNNEC'EICUT, A CORPO- side, and provided'witha'rectangular open- .j 1..

111g 13 in its fouterend, that is, in the end opposed to theclosing movement of the door.

' A pa.ir;of'opposed block'members l' l and having opposed inclined faces 16 and 17 converging inwardly, are disposed within the casing, being engaged with the respective upper and lower walls thereof, the lower block lfqwhich is fixed, having its endsengaged with the inner and outer'end walls of the casing, while the block 15, which is laterally movable,is normally spaced from the rear wall of the casing and engaged with front wall. A coil spring 18 positioned upon a lag 19 struck up from the inner end wall of the casing is engaged in an opening 20in the side-of the casing by means of swedged-ovei lugs 22formed uponthe edge of the casing and engaged'in slots 23 in the plate, the plates extending above and below the casin g and being-provided -with holes24 forattaching the same to the door frame by means of screws 25. A tapered opening 26 is provided in the plate, its wide end being open and registering with the opening 13 in the outer wall of the casing while its narrow end is slightly I spaced from the inner edge of the plate. The

inclined surfaces of the block project beyond the edges of the openings 26 and 13.

In order to retain the blocks against vertical displacement and to guide the lateral movement of the movable block 15, horizontal grooves 27 are provided in the front and rear faces of the blocks, which are engaged by horizontal ribs 28 pressed from the vertical rear wall of the casing the cover plate.

The blocks may be of any suitable material, and because of the protection against breakage afi'orded by the casing may be of fibre or other suitable squeak-preventing self-lubricating material. This is a great advantage as the self-lubricating blocks will dispense with the use of loose grease which because of the exposed nature of the device is very 0bjectionable as it was in a position to soil the clothes and hands of a person getting into the automobile.

The wedge member, which is secured to the edge of the door 29 comprises an attaching base 30 having screw holes 31 and a rigid wedge-shaped projection. 32, having inclined sides substantially corresponding to the inclination of the faces of the dovetail blocks.

The operation is as follows When the door is in open position the block 15 is projected forwardly against the outer end wall of the casing, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. .is the door is closed the wedge member 32 engaged between the blocks preferably contacting therewith before the door is closed, the complete closure of the door causing the block 14L to cam or lift the door upwardly to a slight extent, while the block 15 is moved laterally against the pressure of the spring 18 thereby holding the blocks and the wedge member in snug relation. The inclination of the surfaces is such that vertical. pressure will not displace the block 15 and cause vibration.

The door is provided with the usual latch, not shown, which engages behind a striker on the door frame, and the present device is such that it permits the door to close sufiiciently to allow the latch to operate, and thereupon exerts an outward pressure on the door to for e the latch bolt tightly against the striker.

In Fi 7 and 8 we have sh own a modification in which the camming or lifting block 14 is laterally adjustable, and for this purpose is substantially shorter than the block employed in the first embodiment to permit of lateral adjustment in the casing. A threaded passage 33 is provided through the block and is engaged by a threaded pin having reduced ends 35 and 36 rotatably engaged in holes 37 and. 38 provided in the outer and inner walls of the casing, the end 35 being slotted, as at 39, for engagement by a screw-driver. By turning the pin the block be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly, thus raising or lowering the inclined surface, so that the desired degree of camming action may be obtained. The pin also prevents vertical displacement of the block. In this modification the outer wall of the casing is made integral with the cover plate in order to facilitate assembly of the posts.

We have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodiments of the invention, but it will be obvious that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an anti-rattle device for doors, a socket member and a wedge member adapted to be engaged therewith, said socket member comprising opposed wedge engaging elements, one of said elements being fixed and having a camming surface, the other of said elements adapted to be moved laterally through engagement of said wedge member therewith, and means adapted to prevent vertical movement of said laterally movable wedge engaging element in a direction away from said fixed element.

2. In an anti-rattle device for doors, a socket member and a wedge member adapted to be engaged therewith, said socket member comprising opposed wed 'e engaging elements, one of said elements being normally fixed and having a camming surface, the other of said elements being movable and adapted to be moved by engagement of said wedge member therewith, and means for adjusting said normally fixed element to change the position of its camming surface.

Signed at Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, this 20th day of Eebruary, 1930.

RAYMOND Gr. MOORE. ARTHUR CLAUD-MANTLE. 

